Roasting apparatus



Nov. 25, 1930.

R. H. TALBUTT l' AL RoAsTING APPARATUS 0 0*.0 6 o J QG Q 0 m 0 0 4 W m J w 0 Q Q 0 a han 231|" O ,rnv

Nov. 25, 1930. R, H, TALBUTT ET AL ROASTING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 dummy R. H. TALBUTT El' AL Nov. 25, E930.

ROAS TING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 25 l930.v R H TALBUTT ET AL ROASTINGrv APPARATUS Filed April 18. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 25, 1930. R. H. TALBUTT E' AL 1,782,945

ROASTING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1929 e sheets-sheet 5 Ouh..

1 1 Si u Nov. y25, l930 R, H, TALBUTT Fr AL ROASTING APPARATUS Filed April 18, 1929 6 Sheng-Sheet 6 Patented Nov. T25, 1930 UNITED STATES Pijfrrlszrrr OFFICE 4' ROBERT H.- TALBUTT, DECEASED, LATE OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, BY ARALPH RQIBIN"v SON, ADMINISTRATOR, AND FREDERICK A. ALLNER, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND noAV-s'rING APPARATUS Application led April 18,

This invention-*relates to improvements in heating apparatus and particularly to roasters of that type wherein a rotary container or roastingcylinder constituting the roast- 5 ing Chamber is located Within' an outer shell or frame. More especially, the invention relates to apparatus for roasting such material' as coffee beans, but it will be appreciated thatthe invention is also applicable for the roasting of other commodities, or materials, such -as cocoa, cereals, peanuts, and ores, etc.

As has een stated, the invention is especially designed for the-'roasting of coffee` 2o ber or roasting cylinder in the presence of actual combustion. Such an arrangement does not produce as perfect a roast as 1s desired for various reasons. First, all gaseous fuels contain certain impurities, for example,

y 25,001npounds of sulfur, and due to the highlyV absorbent properties of the roasting product,

I such impurities'have a highly contaminating effect on the aroma and avor that is so desirable'in roasting materials of high quality, such as coffee. It is well known', that materials such ascofi'ee have quite an ailinity for' absorbing odors, somuch so, that even in the shipment of green coffee considerable care is taken to keep the coffee away fromv strong smelling materials such as sheep skinstoil, etc., as the odors of these latter materials, onceabsorbed by the coffee bean, can rarely be .disassociated from it by subsequenttreatment.a This property of absorbing odor is augmented when the coffee bean is heated and its natural moisture content ldriyenoff while being roasted. Thus, even an.- infinitesimal amount of odor bearing impurities imparted during the roasting operation may be sulif cient to impair full development ofnatural aroma and pleasing flavor in the finished product.

' Another imperfection of gas roasting is due to the fact that a large part of the fuel' gas isreduced to steam during the process 1929. serial 1ro. 355,071,

`of combustion and the rate of dissolution ofall aromatic substances in' the coffee is greatly increased by the presence of steam. Consequently, with adelicate flavored material, such as coffee', a large percentage of its aromaticsubstances will be given up or lost.' Another feature of the gas roasting process, as ordinarily employed, is that the gas-red roasting machines requirea large'amount of excess air which causes further evaporation of those essential oilsv that are aroma carriers and also volatilization of fats and other substances forming the .body vof the roasted product. The excess air or-air in excess of that required for complete combustion of the gaseous fuel is necessary in gas roasters in order to quickly reduce the flame temperature to appoint where the roasted product surrounding the combustion zone is not damaged by burning and to quickly remove the burning gases and smoke, together with the chaff. This condition not only detracts 1 from the development of full aroma and flavor but also results in a uniformly vhigh shrinkage. Further, the heat transfer `from the-'gaseous fuel to theproduct being roasted, is accomplished for the most part by convection-and very 'little by radiation and conduction. Heat transfer by convection isessentially-a surface action. The mixture of burned gases and air strikes the surface of the small bodies of material and the heat is transferred to the surface molecules which, in turn, transmit the heat to the molecules of the inner part of the material, and asa-'substantial difference in temperature between the inner and outerr layer of the particles is required in order to make the heat travel from the ex'- terior to the interior on account of the fact that the material is not-'a good conductor of bodies, such as coiee, cereals, and 'other nonrays, are diathermanous'or transparent to heat, rays emitted from a radiant source sov that suc'hrays, in the 'roasting of coffeeand metalliebodies, While impervious to light rial and give up only a portion of their heat units to the outer layers of such bodies of material. This explains why a'productv roasted by Iradiated -heat' is roasted more evenly and uniformly as compared with a product roasted by convection.

Inview of the foregoing observations, the primary object of the vpresentinvention is to provide a roasting apparatus wherein heat is derived from an electrical unit and thema- .terials roasted by heat transferred from such,-

electrical units, the maximum amount of heat transfer being obtained by radiation, a lesser -amount by conduction and a minimum' amount by convection as distinguished from securing the roast by a minimum heat transfer by radiation and conduction. Another object is to control the trans'fer of heat by radiation, conduction and convection by providing means in proximity to the electrical heating unit which will 'absorb a certain amount by heat radiation and transmit it by conduction to the material being roasted. The apparatus utilized for illustrating the present invention is particularly adapted for the roasting of coffee and in accomplishing the last statedobject, a baille is mounted'over theelectrical heating unit, the coffee'l in the roasting chamber falling on said baille wherep by 'it receives a certain amount of heat by conduction. This baiiie is made of double walls separated from one another-or insulated from one another by air or other insulating material and by varying the spacing f of the two walls the temperaure'of the baie,

as well as the heat transmitted by it to the coee beans, may be controlled so as to maintain it at a `point below that temperature which would burn or spot the coffee beans I coming in contact th rewi'th.

' A further. object-o the invention is to maintain' the heat transmitted by radiation at a maximum, this being accomplished by arranging the electrical heating elements under the above mentioned baille so that the maximum surface thereof is exposed'to the coffee -beans which are kept' constantly moving beneath said elements and by operating theV electrical' heating elements at the-highest .practical temperature permissible without causing deterioration when operated continuously. l Y

In addition to the heat transmitted by conduction, from the baille to the coffee beans, and the heat transmitted by radiation, -a'dditional heat is. 'transferred by convection, v`the air which is used for moisture 'and chaff removal being also utilized in this transfer of heat by convection. This might properly be termed forced convection in the present structure. Another `object relates to the means which are employed for controlling the amount of heat transmitted by this forced 2 "1,7s'ae4-6 A `4posing between the electrical heating elements in close proximity thereto, one or more metallic grids which absorb radiant heat from -adjacent elements and which are de signed to have a` maximum surface per unitl volume to. facilitate convection. 'Due to the.

close proximity' of the grids to the electrical elements their heat absorption by .radiation is relatively high so that the temperature of the grids approaches that of the electrical` 'elements and on account of the large surface exposed to the forced' air flowing therethrough, the heatabsorbed by the air is Sullicient to keep the temperature of the electrical elements within safe operating limits.

A still further object of the present inven- -tion relates to the system of chaff yremoval whereinthe amount of air required is approximately the same as that required by moistureremoval.

A still further object relates to the system of air preheating from which air. entering the roasterfrom the exterior for removing the moisture and chaff from the interior of 'the roaster takes up a considerable part of the waste heat from the heated `mixture of air and moisture being exhausted from the roaster. To further increase this preheating of air entering the roaster with heat otherwise wasted, such air is also brought into contact with the frame -portion of the roaster which supports the terminal. This results in a substantial increase of thermal efficiency ofthe apparatus and in addition renders it unnessary to provide special construction for insulating the outside shell'and end frame of the apparatus.

With these and other objects in view, the

present invention consists of certain novel details o f construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as ,will be hereinafter more fully described and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out inthe appended claims. A

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is afront end lview'of the appa- .ratus embodying the present improvements;

Fig. la' is a detail view of the'exhaust flue and the damper therefor; j

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section view substantially centrally ofthe apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a transverse'sectional view looking toward the real` of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a viewl of the rear end or the end opposite thatshown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofthe heating unit including the baille;l

Fig. 6 is a sectional view ofthe lheating unit on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the grid Fig. 8 is a detail view of the electrical resistance material constituting the heating unit proper, and'v A convection. This is accomplished by inter- A Fig. 9l isa detail view of a portion of one l of the supports of insulating material for the electrical resistance' element.

vAs before mentioned, the present 'invention is illustrated herein in connection with coifee roasting apparatus comprising rigid end frames, which, for convenience, are made in two parts, the lower sections 1, 2, extending fronithe floor to substantially the center line `of the roasting cylinder, and the upper -sections 1a, 2a, secured to the lower sections by bolts 3. These end fra-mes constitute the ate casing 6 is an inner casing 6EL and passageway 7 between said intermediate casing 6 and the inner casing 6EL terminating at' the .i outlet pipe 8 through which the cha and moisture isremoved from the interior of the roaster as will be hereinafter described. Casings 6, 6, are rigidly secured to the inner casing support 17 mounted on end frame sections 1, 1a, while the 'opposite ends of casings 6, 6a are supported by casing support 18 rigidly mounted on end frame sections 42, 2a, but saidcasings 6, 6, are secured to support 18 by means of `fastenings which permit expansion of the casings when they become hotterl than outer casing 4. For convenience, casing 4 may be open at point 10 at the top and 10a at one side so that each side may be lowered on hinges 11 and casings 6, 6a and supports 17, 1,8 are split at substantially ,.the horizontal central line of the roast-l ing cylinder and the sections thereof hinged as at 9 to, permit the upper half of said casings to be lifted free of theroasting cylinder so as to facilitate inspection -and cleaning.

- Vithin the inner casing 6at there is a roasting drum in' the form of a perforated cylinder 12 whose ends are closedby heads 13, 14,7formed with hollow trunnions 15,16, projecting outwardly into engagement with the peripheries of trunnion wheels ]ournaled 1n suitable pockets in the end frames 1, 2. To permit longitudinal expansion of drum or cylinder 12 the trunnion at one end of the cylinder, preferably the front, has a circumferential groove in which the trunmon wheels are received while the trunnion 16 at the rear has a plain periphery adapted to engage the trunnion rollers so that the cylinder may expand whe'n hot. Furthermore, both sets of trunnion wheels are .adjustable radially from the exteriorl of the roastr so as to insure proper s upportnf the` drum. A convenient arrangement for rendering the journals adjustablevis'tosecure said rollers on a shaft having enlarged bearing surfaces for the rollers eccentric to the reduced ends journaled in the frame so that by r-otaty ing the shafts the center of rotation of the rollers may be moved toward or from the center of the-rotating cylinder. The drum is adapted to roll upon these trunnion wheels, being rotated by power applied to shaft 22 ]ournaled yina bushing 23 in the rear frame and-projecting into frame 2, its inner end 4being provided with pinion 24 meshing'- with a ring gear 25 on the drum head 14. The drive shaft 22 is preferably driven by means of the worm reduction ,gear mounted on a bed plate27 with the driving motor 28 which is directly .connected to said reduction gear by means of-a suitable'` coupling device 20. The trunnion wheels are lubricated by lubricant from oil cups 29.` The particular man# .ner in which the drum is mounted on the trunnion wheels, the adjustability of said rollers, and the driving mechanism for the cylinder, forms no part of the present invention, being more fully described and shown in Patent No.

1,585,437 granted to Robert H. Talbutt, May

The rotating drum and the exterior frame are formed with an opening at one end for charging the cylinder with coffee to be roasted and discharging it .after it has been roasted. `This opening has a closure formed by a fianged thimble 30 fastened to the frame sectlons 1, la, by screws 31, said thimble extending 'inwardly of the casing to a point in line with the inner face of drum head 13.

Suitable clearance between trunnion 15 and thimble 30 is provided at 32 at which point there is formed a series of circumferential grooves32a on the interior of trunnion 15 and Von the exterior of thimble 30 to minimizethe leakage of air and chaff through said clearance. Thimble 30 is provided with an outwardly directed chute 33 adjacent a rcctangular opening in said thimble, said opening being provided with a door 34 which has an outwardly extending side 35 on which is mounted a combination latch and handle 36. Door 34 is shown in dotted lines 34:l in charg ing operation and in dotted lines 34b for discharging. 'lhe'interior of the rotating cylin` der is provided with helical vanes 38, 39, so arranged that las the drum rotates, the coffee is continuouslyagitated and evenly .distributed in the drum. At one end of the cylinder said vanes terminate in inclined chute 4()l for facilitating discharge'of the coffee vwhen door 34 is in the position indicated in dotted lines at- 34". A small rectangular aperture is also formed in frontfthimble 30 in which a sample scoop 41'may be placed so as to project into the drum or cylinder whereby a sample of the coifee in the interiorof the cylinder may be extracted, said aperture being closed by"a sliding cover, 42 adapted to lbe closed by j gravity when the scoop is removed.

At the opposite or rear end of the roa'sterA a flanged thimble 43 is securedby screws 44 to the rear sections 2, 2B, saidthimble extending inwardly to a point in line with the inside face of drum head 14 and suitable clearanceA .being provided between said thimble and,

` ,trunnions 16- as at 21, at which point circumferential grooves 2la areprovided similar to the frontend of the apparatus. Rigidly secured by bolts 45 to the inner face of rear thimble 43 is la hood-,or baiiie 46 extending.

into -th`ethimble, a suitable heat insulating liner may be interposed betweensaid thimble.- .and baffle, preferably of asbestos. This hood or bafiie 46 is'of double construction, comprising an inner baffle wall 48, the inner .and

outer walls 46, 48, being insulated from oneA another as by the air space 49 between them posed in said space 49. The electrical heat- I ing elements 50 are arranged in a supporting .structure consisting of insulators 51 mounted on channelirons 52 `supported in angle irons 54 mounted on upright supports 53 and ba'rs 55 which serve as sliding members on the cross bars 56 which are supported from the 'baffle 46. 'A flanged cover plate 57, to which are fastened angle irons 54 and bars 55 serves to cover an openingin the rear thimble 43 through which the heating elements may be inserted in the roasting cylinder. That is,

rthe heating elements 50 are supported on angle irons 54 and bars 55 which are in turn supported 'from the cover'plate 57, said angle irons and bars simply sliding on cross bars 56 when the heating elements are inserted in or removed from the roasting chamber. Cover plate v57 is secured in place by bolts 58 and is 7 also provided with porcelain insulating bushings 59 through which suitable terminal 'rods y60 project toconnect the heating elements'to power snpply,` cable connectors 61 and cable' 62. Anarreiw vertical slot 63, covered with` mica is forriied 'in cover plate 57 to permit visual inspection of the heating elements when desired. Preferably, the electric heating unit is comprised of vthree elements, as shown, which may be designated 56a, 5 0", and 50C. Each oneof these elements is avcontinuous strip of suitable material supported in grooves 51a in the insulators 51 and each of the ribbons or elements 50a and 50b are connected to element 50c. It will be observed that practically all'of the area of the elements Y is exposed so `far as insulators 51 are concerned, so that any coffee in the lowercporf tion. of the ,roasting'cylinder is exposed to a maximum portion of the area of said heating elements so as to be heated and roasted by radiation. Bearing in mind 'that the coiiee is being constantly agitated by roasting cylinthe outer wall 46 ofthe baiiie above the heating unit. In thisway, thecofee is roasted to some extent, by conduction, but due to the Adoublewalled effect of said balie, which permits thel-temperature of the outer wall of said'baiile to be rather accurately regulated, there is no; danger whatever of the coffee beans being burnt or spotted by an excessive heating of saidl ba-ifle. 'In fact, asv before mentioned, the major portion of the roasting effect is accomplished Aby heat radiation, or, in other words, the major portion of the roasting operation, is performed at that time duringvwhich ,thel coffee beans are in motion beneath the heating unit. or elements. In addition to this roasting by radiation and conduction, such .roasting is also partially 1 performed by convection. In the present inor by some solidrinsulating material inter' stance, this roasting by convection, might properly be termed roasting by forced convection because, in accordance with the presentinvent-ion, there is -imposed vbetween the. heating elements means for augmenting the heating of air flowing past said heating elements. Preferably such l,means for accomplishing this forced heating of the air con` sists of a metallic grid formed of closely spaced metallic elements 72 so formed and relatively spaced to one another that they provide a long tortuous path for the air pass- `ing therethrough and offer resistance to the flow of the same so as to obtain a uniform distribution thereof over the entire area of these metallic elements'72, which, lfor -convenicnce, will be herein designated asthe grid.A Preferably, said grid is interposed grid 72 is to aid inthe 'transfer of heat from the heating elements by means of radiation and forced convection. The close proximity of the grid to the high heating elements naturally results in a higher rate of heat' transfer to th'e grid by radiation and' because of the long tortuous path offered by said grid to' currents of air flowing the-rethrqigh, said grid has a large surface exposure to said air and there is a consequent higher rate of heat transfer or exchange by convection. In`

order to obtain the full benefit of the' transfer of heat from the grid to the air entering the roasting chamber, it is proposed that all air entering said chamber shallcdo so at a point beneath the hood 46 and, by having the gridl lim A' lll) 1'5- section 2a into chamber 5 between outer cas-l occupy substantiallyl the entire -ai'ea' between the middle and bottomheating elements 50",.

50, practically all air entering the roasting chamber y/fproper must necessarily pass through/'the grid.A In view I of this, the air i '-inlet orf/air inlet passage iii the present apparatus'comprises a covering or hood 68 enclosing the rear end or the apparatus but open at its lower end 69'. A baile 70 within said hood 68 serves to direct the incoming air over the terminals' 60, 61, thus maintaining these i terminals. comparatively cool and recovering chart .and`moisture; to effect transmission ofV v 63, this aperture being closed by a glass coverheat.v which would otherwise be wasted. From hood. 68 the incomingair passes through a segmental opening 67 in rear. frame ing- 4 and intermediate casing 6. From4 this chamber 5 the air, after passing around the casing, flows through a segmental slot 65 in rear, frame 2a into a manifold 64 provided with an4 outlet 66 `from which the air escapesorrlows into the roasting chamber beneath .the balie 46. `In this way, all\of the air necessary in the roasting operation suplied to the interior of the roast-ing chamber, 4that is, all the air that is used to remove the heat by convection and to maintain yproper `.temperature by the heating elements. It

should-be added'thatthe hood '68 has an aperture therein opposite the micawindow ing 71', which in conjunction with the mica .window permits visual inspection off the heating elements duringthe roasting. operation.

' For exhausting the air Jfrom-theroasting chamber,'means for drawing the air o by i' suction is provided in outlet 8, one suction fan being deemedl suficient for this purpose.

` This outlet 8 communicates'with what may -be termed the chai' passage or outlet passage 7 formed between the intermediate casing -6' and inner casing 6% and into which the air enters at the" point 74 so that it inust traverse the major portion of the periphery of the casings as illustrated in the sectional view In operation, the current is turned on full after' the -proper Aamount or coffee has been charged into the drum' and the charging door closed. The material within the roasting cylinder12', naturally rolls, and to a great 'l extentremains-at-the` bottom of the drum, 55

but by the'provision of the helical vanes 38,

39. the material is not only thoroughly mixed by beingmoved back and forward, butit is also carried around and upward to the top of the roasting cylinder where it falls oi of the vanes and down and over the inclined sides of bailie 46 which is kept atthe proper temperature by the heating elements beneath i j the` same.' The progress of the roast may 'be ascertained from time to time by observthermometer -73 and withdrawing samples periodically with the scoop The j exhaust fan is kept .operatingcontiniiously,

able damper 80 near the fan'. Cold air from the* room is drawn into the roaster at the convection, it serves to maintain said heating elements at a proper working temperature. The air then coming in direct contact with the coiee and moisture, which'is being liberated, aids in 'heating the coifee vand absorbs the moisture in its passage through the agitating material and'finally passes through the perforated cylinder 12 together with the chaff and dust, to the entrance 74 of passage 'the amount of air being regulated by'la suit 7 The close proximity of casing 6a to the roasting cylinder 1 2 'is essential in order to producethedesired'action to keep the chair in motion until it reaches entrance 7 4 to-passage 7, from whence the air carries the chaff along and keeps it in suspension by virtue of its high velocity until discharged by the exhaust fan throughA outlet 8, this high velocity being obtained by reason of the comparatively small cross-sectional area of passage7 relative to the crosssectional area of passage 5.

Withapparatus constructed 4as described, it is believed that the high thermal efliciency in the utilization of electrical heat has been secured because of the following new features whichhave been utilized in the design of the apparatus. For instance, there is present a closed series system of air circulation with leakage reduced to a minimum and in which the same air serves to (1) cool the rear end of 'the roasting machine; (2) recover fheat units otherwise lost by radiation; (3) recover waste heat from the exhaust fans o'n the counter-c urrent principle; (4)- maintain proper temperature of the heating elements; (5)- efrect heat transfer by convectiong( 6) remove moisture without condensation; (7) carry both dust andchaf awayffrom the roaster.

It is also true that a minimum radiation ,loss is obtained'without the use of heat-,insulating material by maintaining the outer casing cool with the use 'of the air'inlet 5. It is also necessary to design the chai removal or exhaust passage 7 so that there will be suiii-4 cient velocity to keep the chai in suspension with the minimum of Vair required .for moisture removal, the actual \amount being re- .iso

quired being such as'to keep the mixture he low the dew point so as to prevent condensa-v tion. Another important feature is the design of the electric heating apparatus so that it may beV operated at amaximum tempera-ture (below that producing deterioration of metal) in order toY obtain the maximum practical amount of heat transfer to the coffee, primarily by radiation, secondly, con-` duction, and a minimum by convection. This condition is eii'ected by the'nse of the double baiile over the heating elements whereby the outer baflie is kept below the tempera'- .ture which causes spotting of the beans and the use of the grid so that the temperature of the heating elements may be kept below the maximum safe operating temperature.

with the minimum amount. of air required for moisture removal. Again, by using a smaller amount of air in the removal of moisture than is used in gas-fired roasters, the essential oils in the coee beans are not levaporated to the same extent and the shrinkage is consequently reduced. Undesirable odors in theY prod-A ucts of combustion are also eliminated, resulting in the improvement in the quality of the roast. Further, preheating of the air with the exhaust gases results in the quicker time of roasting, or conversely, for a given time of roasting, the energy required will be less on account of those heat units formerly wasted being regained, so to speak, by preheating. This means smaller sized'heating elements and a lower power demand.

What is claimed is:

1. In a roasting apparatus, the combination of an electrical. heating unit mounted within a roasting chamber, means for moving t-he material-to be roasted through said chamber, a large area of said unit being directly exposed to the material passingA through the chamber to roast the'material primarily by radiation, a baffle only partially surrounding sald un1t for preventing the material con-` tacting with the unit, and means comprising a conduit for supplying heated air directly. between said baiile and unit for augment-ingY roasting ofthe material by convection.

2. In aroasting'apparatus, the combina tion of anelectrical heating unit mounted within a roasting chamber, means for'passing material to be roasted through said chamber, a baille positioned in, proximity to said vunit but'only partially surrounding the same for roasting the material by conduction and for preventing contact of the material Pwith said.

' unit, and means for supplying heated air beneath said baille for heating vthe material by convection, the material being also directly exposed to the major portion of the area of the heating unit whereby it is heated by heat waves radiating from said unit, such radiation being the primary roasting' medium.

3. In a roasting apparatus, the combination of an electrical heating. unit mounted within a roasting chamber, a baiiie abovefsaid unit for preventing contact of the vvmaterial to be roasted with said'unit, said baili'e being formed of impe'rforate spaced walls only partially enclosing said unit whereby a portion of the unit is dlrectly ex osedfrom below the .n

baiile,v and means for e evating material-in' the chamber and depositing it 'onsaidbaiile 4., In a roasting apparatus, the combination of an electrical heating un'it within a roast-l ing chamber,- a double wall baiiie for ,preventing contact of the -material being roasted with said unit, the walls of said baiile being f for exposing'the material in said chamber to heat waves radiatingfrom said unit andfor depositing said material on the outer wall of said baffie, to heat said material by conduction, and means .for supplying heated air beneath said unit and balile for heating said material by convection.

6. In a roasting apparatus, the combination of an electrical heating unit mounted within a roasting chamber, a baffle positioned above said nunit, means for carrying material toV be roasted beneath said unit and for depositing it on said baie, means for supplying air directly beneath saidbaliie,and a heat absorbing element positioned adjacent said unit, there being air passages in said element through which the air supplied uni der the baiiie passes.

7 In a roasting apparatus, the combination of an electrical heating unit mounted ion within a roasting chamber, a baiile positioned above said unit, means for carrying material to be roasted beneath said umt and for y depositing it on said ba-ie, means for supplying air directly beneath said baiii'e, and a heat absorbing element positioned adjacent said unit, said element having a multiplicity of tortuous passages therein through which air supplied beneath said baiepasses 8. In a roasting apparatus, the combination of an electrical heating unit mounted within al roasting chamber, a baiiie positioned to be roasted beneath said unit'and for depositing it on said baie, means for supplying air directly beneath said baile, and a heat above :said unit, means forcarrying material absorbing element positioned adjacent said unit, there being air passa-ges in said element through which the air supplied under the' baffle passes, said heating unit and heat absorbing element being removable from the roasting chamber as an entity.

9. In a roasting apparatus, the combination of an electrical heating unit Vmounted Within a roasting chamber, said unit being composed of a pair of spaced resist-ance members, means for supplying air to said members, means for moving material to be roasted past said elements, and a heat absorbing element positioned between said pair of resistance members, said element having a multiplicity of passages therein through which the air passes.

10. In a roasting apparatus, the combination of an electrical heating unit mounted Within a roasting chamber, said unit being composed of a pair of spaced resistance members, means for supplying air to said members, means for moving material to be roasted past said elements, and a heat absorbing element positioned between said pair of resistance members, said element having a multiplicity of passages therein through Which the air passes, said resistance members and heat absorbing element being removable from the roasting chamber as an entity through Which air supplied to said unit passes.

11. In an electrical heating apparatus, the combination of a compartment for material to be treated, an electrical heating, unit, means for supplying air to said unit, and a heat absorbing element positioned adjacent said heating unit and provided'with a multiplicity of air passages through which air supplied to said unit passes, said passages com* municating With said compartment.

12. In an electrical heating apparatus, the combination of a compartment for material to be treated, an electrical heating unit, means for supplying air to said unit, and a heat absorbing element adjacent said heating unit, said element being substantially co-extensive With said unit and provided With amultiplicity of air passages through which air sup-` plied to said unit passes, said passages communicating with said compartment.

13.- In an electrical heating apparatus the combination of an electrical heating unit, means for supplying air to said unit, and a heat absorbing element, adjacent to and real ceiving heat byradiation from said heating` unit, said element being substantially co-extensive With said unit and provided With a multiplicity of air passages so arranged that a given amount of'air' supplied to said unit will transferfroin said heat absorbing element a maximum amount of heat by convec` tion. e

14. In a roasting apparatus, the combina tion of a roasting chamber, a heating unit Within said chamber, means for agitating material to be roasted in said chamber, and means for supplying and exhausting air to said chamber, said means comprising an inlet passage extending around said chamber and an outlet passage intermediate said inlet passage and the chamber.

15. In a roasting apparatus, the combination of a 'roasting chamber, a heating unit Within said chamber, means for agitating ma- .terial to be roasted in said chamber, and

means for supplying and exhausting air to said chamber, said means comprising an inlet passage extending around said chamber and an outlet passage intermediate said inlet passage and the chamber, the cross sectional area of said outlet passage being less than that of the inlet passage.

16. In a roasting apparatus, the combination of a roasting chamber, a heating unit Within said chamber, means for agit-ating material to be roasted in said chamber, and means for supplying and exhausting air to said chamber, said means comprising an inlet passage enclosing one end of said chamber and extending around said chamber and an outlet passage extending around the chamber intermediate said chamber and inlet passage.

17. In a roasting apparatus, the combination of a roasting chamber, a heating unit Within said chamber, means for agitating material to be roasted in said chamber, and means for supplying and exhausting air to said chamber, said means comprising an inlet passage enclosing one end of said chamber and extending around said chamber and an outlet passage extending around the chamber intermediate said chamber and inlet passage, the cross sectional area of the outlet passage being less than that of the inlet passage.

18. In a roasting apparatus, the combination of a roasting chamber, a heating unit mounted Within said roasting chamber,

means Within said chamber for agitating the material to be roasted, and means for supplying air to and exhausting it from said chamber, comprising a duct enclosing one end Wall of the chamber, an exhaust passage extending around the sides of the chamber, and an inlet passage of greater cross sectional area than the exhaust passage extending around said exhaust pass ge.

ROBERT H. TALBUTT, Deceased,

By Ralph Robinson, Administrator. FREDERICK A. ALLNER. 

